NFL Scouts: Caleb Williams, Drake Maye Would've Gone Before Young, Stroud, Richardson

USC quarterback Caleb Williams and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye are expected to be the headliners of the 2024 NFL draft, but they reportedly would've gotten top billing this past year as well.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, "multiple scouts" said they would have picked either Williams or Maye with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft ahead of the talented class of quarterbacks that included Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson.

In his latest mock draft on Thursday, ESPN's Matt Miller predicted that Williams will be going to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 1 with Maye heading to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 3 pick. The only reason Maye wasn't at No. 2 is that Arizona was projected to be selecting with back-to-back picks thanks to owning the Houston Texans' 2024 first-rounder.

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Williams is coming off a dominant 2022 season for the Trojans in which he threw for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns against just five interceptions while adding 113 carries for 382 yards and 10 more scores. He's drawn frequent comparisons to Kansas City Chiefs star and two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes because of his creativity and his athleticism.

Thamel noted that "it was unanimous among the scouts that they liked Williams better" than Maye. However, the Tar Heels signal-caller also has a bright future ahead of him.

Whereas Williams is listed as 6'1" and 215 pounds, Maye has the prototypical size for an NFL starting quarterback at 6'4" and 230 pounds. He enjoyed a breakout season for North Carolina last year in which he recorded 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions through the air while also adding 698 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground.

It's clear that both Williams and Maye are destined for stardom at the next level. But first, they will focus their attention on the 2023 college football season, which kicks off this weekend.